I write books, me.

I’ve written three books of contemporary fiction in the last three years and each one, I hope, is simple in style and clear in direction. This is my style. This is the way I write. It’s down my alley, right up my street and bang down the avenue of things I like. Things like Trigger Bars, Talking Heads, cheesecake, Colin Bateman mystery books, trifle – uncomplicated-you-get-what-it-says-on-the tin stuff.I like reading books and writing books that both I and millions like me can understand without having to memorise a cast of thousands, without having to look up the dictionary for unpronounceable four syllable words (John Banville – I love your books but why so many obtuse and obscure words???), without having to read through pages of the traumatised lives of pauper-like creatures that are barely human, who live in the lashings of rain in Limerick (I tell you no word of a lie – Angela’s Ashes sucked the life out of me!!).

Give me a happy book, a book with sunshine, a book with some humour in it, a book with a happy ending. It doesn’t have to be “Little House on the Prairie” happy – just some smidgeon of happiness. Something to make you smile, something to brighten your day. Something pink, something with caffeine in it, something written on paper that makes you take your mind off the daily routine.
I’m currently publicising my latest book, “My Little Lighthouse”. It’s a self-published book – as are my previous two books. Not everyone is lucky enough to hook up with a publisher or an agent – in Ireland the number is down to about half a dozen of each species. You probably stand more chance of replacing Wayne Rooney on the Manchester United team, or winning the Euromillions or scoring the presenter’s job on the Late Late Show. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. It also doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go the self-publishing route. If it was okay for Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling and Roddy Doyle then - it’s alright by me.
“My Little Lighthouse” is about a man who gets struck by lightening (ouch!) and as a result looses his memory. He runs his software company nearly single-handedly and the company will go down the tubes if he doesn’t regain his memory. Will his wife – the only person he recognises - and his two grown-up kids be able to save him, his company and their family life?
Don’t worry – it’s not doom and gloom. Don’t worry – there aren’t any four syllable words to look up. Don’t worry – it doesn’t rain once after the first chapter! Happy ending??? Now that would be telling now, wouldn’t it. . .?Anyone who would like to buy a copy from my website will be helping Crumlin Children’s Hospital. All website sales up to the end of this year go directly to the hospital charity. Visit me at www.petermccluskey.com

Replacing Wayne Rooney in publishing terms

I’m currently publicising my latest book, “My Little Lighthouse”. It’s a self-published book – as are my previous two books. Not everyone is lucky enough to hook up with a publisher or an agent – in Ireland the number is down to about half a dozen of each species. You probably stand more chance of replacing Wayne Rooney on the Manchester United team, or winning the Euromillions or scoring the presenter’s job on the Late Late Show. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. It also doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go the self-publishing route. If it was okay for Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling and Roddy Doyle then - it’s alright by me.

pink tea and paper makes my day

delighted to have a guest post today on ellen brickley's blog www.ellenbrickley.blogspot.com (pink tea and paper). very nice of her to accept my piece. i've been reading her blogs for a short while now and must say they are enjoyable and a positive read. like all good writers, she has that persistance and determnation to get to the finish line, the ability to stick to the task. another fellow writer who has that stick-at-it-ness quality is mick rooney (www.mickrooney.net ). i was delighted to assist mick with the launch of his ninth book recently, "the memory of trees" which is published by book republic.
don't forget to visit ellen at pink tea and paper......

the girl in the bookstore

she said she knew me.
i looked up from the bestsellers' shelves.
she had those jennifer aniston bangs and black framed specs.
"i hope i don't owe you money!", i joked.
"aren't you suzanne's dad?", she asked.
i raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"yes... yes that's right. do you know her?"
"i did the same art class as her in ballyfermot college last year."
"oh, i see."
she held up the book she was holding in her hand and once it came into my peripheral vision i glanced away from her and foccused on the book.
"my little lighthouse", i read the title and immediately felt flushed wirth embarrasment.
she held out a pen for me to take.
"would you mind signing it for me?"
"no not at all. i'd be delighted."
i scrawled my name on the inside with a 'happy to meet' quote followed by a ham-fisted drawing of a smiley face.
"tell suzanne i was asing for her, mr. mccluskey."

when is a door not a door

old brother o'keeffe in my primary school used to pick his nose - violently.
"mccluskey", he would say, "mccluskey - ya have no soul".
i took this to mean that i wasn't very fond of fish, which - truth be told - was true.
and so i never challenged him on this point but merely nodded my head in that understanding manner that seemed to calm him down. he would rest his cane out of his hand on his desk and the moment would pass.
and so the the answer was always and still is "when it's ajar"...

can't get used to loosing ewe

the sheep on the curragh asked me to tell the joke about the polish guy who went into the optician. optician points to reading chart as says to polish guy - can you read any of that. polish guys says - read it!!!! - i went to scool with half of those guys!!!

happy as a sandboy..happy as a sunny day in limerick......that "Angela's Ashes" just sucked the life outta me...i'll never get the time back i spent reading that book. God loves a book with good weather in it!! Start writing stuff with good weather in it, please!!